Local Competitions in Fars and Relocation of Bushehr-Shiraz Route from Shahi Road to Jareh (1327-1329AH/1909-1910AD)

Abstract

In addition to the Shahi road as the main route between Bushehr and Shiraz, there was another sub-route known as Jareh which was an emergency rout that connect these two cities to each other. After constitutional revolution, structural evolution in ruling system, and lack of enforcement authority of the central government, led to increasing insecurity in Shahi road, the second commuter route of Iran. Therefore Iran government faced with recurrent objections of British which had been affected by these insecurities. For as much as both routes, Shahi road and Jareh road passing from the domain of Qashqaiee nomads, and Solatodoleh powerful Qashqaiee chief had the ability to provide security in both directions so the finger of scorn about insecurity pointed at Solatodoleh and his tribe. Against these suspicions, Solatodoleh tried to open Jareh road. This action leads to the question of ʺwhy Solatodoleh despite his power to provide security in Shahi road, opened Jareh for traffic of caravansˮ. By looking at conditions of Fars and local competitions in this state, it seems that the reason of this decision can be related to change in balance of power against Solatodoleh during the post constitutional events.

Keywords

• fars state
• local competitions
• jareh road
• shahi road
• south insecurities